The document outlines the regulatory framework and evolution of gaming laws in the Philippines, detailing the role of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) in managing and regulating both land-based and online gambling. It highlights the significant economic impact of casinos and integrated resorts on the tourism industry, emphasizing their contribution to job creation, revenue generation, and infrastructure development. The document also addresses the ethical considerations of responsible gaming and the potential social costs associated with gambling activities.

1. GAMING LAW
RULES AND REGULATIONS
Presentation by
MECHILLE E. LUGO
PHD IHTM 908

2. Examine the Regulatory Framework and
Evolution of Gaming Laws
OBJECTIVES
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Assess the Economic Impact of Gaming on the
Tourism Industry
Address how the Gaming Law be useful in
the tourism and hospitality industry

3. OVERVIEW
Gambling has been present in the Philippines since at least the
sixteenth century. Various legal and illegal forms of gambling are found
almost all over the archipelago.
The government manages gambling through the Philippine Amusement
and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) a state-owned enterprise which
both operates a number of individual casinos and in turn acts as a
regulator to privately owned casino operators.
Since 2016 PAGCOR has also granted operating licenses and overseen
the regulation of the growing online gambling sector serving offshore
markets. Casino gambling and integrated resorts have become a key
component of the Philippines’ appeal as a tourist destination with more
than twenty casinos found in Metro Manila alone.
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4. Gaming/ Gambling
Definition- Gambling (also known as betting ) is the wagering of something of value ("the
stakes") on a random event with the intent of winning something else of value, where
instances of strategy are discounted. (Wikipedia)
Gambling thus requires three elements to be present:
1. amount wagered
2. risk
3. prize
The outcome of the wager is often immediate, such as a single roll of dice, a spin of a roulette wheel,
or a horse crossing the finish line, but longer time frames are also common, allowing wagers on the
outcome of a future sports contest or even an entire sports season.
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5. IS GAMBLING LEGAL IN THE
PHILIPPINES?
Yes, gambling is legal in the Philippines when it is licensed
and regulated.. In 1975, then President Ferdinand Marcos wrote
into law Decree No. 1067 that defined legal gambling and
created PAGCOR to license and regulate the industry.
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6. IS ONLINE GAMBLING LEGAL IN
THE PHILIPPINES?
Yes, no Filipino laws state that it is illegal for residents to gamble online. The one
exception is that Filipino-based casinos and sportsbooks are not allowed to offer their
online services to residents of the Philippines.
Such as:
1. Philippine legal online poker
2. Philippine legal online casinos
3. Philippine legal horse betting, and
4. Philippine legal online sports betting sites
All the gambling laws in force on the islands are directed towards the casino operators
instead of the players.
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7. PHILIPPINE AMUSEMENT AND GAMING
CORPORATION (PAGCOR)
 The PAGCOR is the primary regulator in the Philippines that
supervises the Entertainment City (a compact equivalent of Las Vegas),
casinos scattered across the country, and online casinos operating
abroad.
 Citizens of the Philippines are only allowed to play at land-based
casinos regulated by the PAGCOR, provided they are at least 21 years
of age, and online casinos are only licensed to offer their services to
foreign players outside of the Philippines.
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 It maintains legal compliance by frequently
inspecting gaming establishments and
enforcing tight rules.

8. THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT HAS ESTABLISHED CLEAR
GUIDELINES FOR GAMING
( Founder )
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PRESENT AT LEAST ONE
VALID ID
AT LEAST
YEARS OLD
NO SMOKING
PROPER
DRESS CODE

9. RELEVANT LAWS IN PHILIPPINE GAMBLING
1. Presidential Decree No. 1602 imposes stiffer penalties on individuals involved
in illegal gambling activities in the Philippines, covering various forms of
gambling and penalizing those who permit gambling, while also providing
rewards for informants and repealing inconsistent laws.
2. Republic Act No. 9287 (released and approved April 2, 2004) increases
penalties for illegal numbers games in the Philippines, aiming to eradicate
these activities and punish those involved, including bettors, personnel, and
government officials, while also providing protection for witnesses and
incentives for law enforcement officers.
3. Republic Act No. 9487 amends the PAGCOR Charter, granting the
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation a franchise to operate and
license gambling establishments, with certain limitations and regulations.
4. Republic Act 9208 as amended by the Republic Act 10364 which establishes
the necessary institutional mechanisms to protect and support trafficked
persons, and provides penalties for its violations.
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10. RELEVANT LAWS IN PHILIPPINE GAMBLING
4. Decree No. 1067-a. This law defined legal gambling in the Philippines and created the
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). This regulation specifically states
what forms of gambling entertainment are legal. Any domestic gambling not listed among the
approved venues is assumed to be illegal.
5. Presidential Decree (No. 1869) was enacted which requires the Philippine Amusement and
Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to be used as a guideline on how to license and regulate gambling
organizations. It also lists the corporate powers and operations of PAGCOR as well as any other
powers, provisions, and exemptions that pertain to the government agency.
6. Republic Act (No. 7922) established the Cagayan Freeport economic zone for the Cagayan
Valley. This regulation defined the principles of operations and created the Cagayan Economic
Zone Authority (CEZA) to promote tourism in the Cagayan Providence area.
7. Republic Act No. 10927 was enacted in 2017 to strengthen Republic Act No. 9160 – The Anti-
Money Laundering Act of 2001. RA 10927 puts tougher regulations and restrictions on big payouts
and wagers. It also mandates that all casinos now keep detailed records for 5 years about their
customers.
8. House Bill 8910 is a bill that aims to regulate e-sabong and online cockfighting throughout the
Philippines. It also enhances several functions of the Games and Amusement Board.
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11. Philippine Regulatory Agencies
Philippine Amusement And Gaming Corporation(PAGCOR)
To authorize and license any game of chance and to generate revenue for governmental national
development programs.
First Cagayan Leisure And Resort Corporation(FCRLC)
Imposes its own set of laws and regulations for their economic region and aims to produce a self-sufficient
industry and provide employment and income for the Metropolis of Santa Ana.
Philippine Racing Commission (PHILRACOM)
aims to maintain efficient and unbiased operations of horse racing that deals with the sport and gambling,
while improving the breed of Philippine horses and preventing illegal importation of sporting horses.
Games And Amusements Board (GAB)
is the organization that regulates and supervises play for pay sports and strives to prevent the formation of
illegal bookies and other illegal gambling centered around combat sport games and amusement games.
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)
the principal government agency that organizes and regulates sweepstakes and lottery games while also
engaging in welfare-related health investments.
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12. Types of Gaming
License in Philippines
1.Casino License
2.eGames License
3.Bingo License
4. Sports Betting License

13. Philippines Gaming License Requirements
Business Entity
Registration
Applicants must establish
their firm as a legally
recognized entity within
the Philippines.
Financial Stability
Demonstrating financial stability
is a critical requirement, and
applicants must present
evidence of sufficient funds to
operate a gaming company
effectively.
SocialMediaMarketing
PAGCOR conducts
comprehensive background
checks on all key personnel,
including shareholders,
directors, and officers, to
assess their suitability and
integrity.
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Strong anti-money
laundering procedures are
mandatory to prevent any
illicit financial activities
associated with online
gaming employment.
Background Checks
Anti-Money
Laundering Measures

14. Economic Impact
Gambling, especially through casinos and integrated resorts, has a
significant impact on tourism. The development of casino resorts such as Solaire
Resort and Casino, and City of Dreams Manila, enhances the tourism appeal by
providing additional entertainment options, luxury accommodations, and dining
experiences. The presence of such establishments can attract a higher number of
international tourists, thereby boosting the local economy.
By this, there was an increasing number of tourists spending in casinos,
hotels, restaurants, and other local businesses. Moreover, the creation Besides,
the revenue from gaming can be used to develop infrastructure, making
destinations more attractive to tourists.
This abundance of casinos and gaming areas aided in the 17% growth of the
gambling industry in 2015. The reported gross revenue for 2015 was PHP 130
billion, a significant increase from 2014's PHP 111 billion.
Much of this growth can be attributed to Manila's Entertainment City,
which consists of first-class casinos and hotels. These hotels and casinos are a
huge source of tourism, which brings in additional revenue for the country.

15. Economic Impact
Positive Impact
1. Increased Revenue
2. Job Creation
3. Infrastructure Development
4. Multiplier Effect
Negative Impact
1. Social Costs
2. Vulnerability to Market Changes
3. Local Business Impact
4. Inflationary Pressures

16. How Gaming Law be useful in the
hospitality and tourism industry?
UNDERSTANDING THE
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK AND
EVOLUTION OF GAMING LAWS
Compliance: Ensuring that all operations comply
with local laws helps avoid legal issues and
penalties.
Trust: Building trust with both local authorities
and international tourists by adhering to
established legal standards.
Partnerships: Facilitating partnerships with
licensed gaming operators and venues.
LEVERAGING GAMING LAWS FOR
TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY
GROWTH
Enhanced Marketing: Promoting destinations as
premier gaming and leisure hubs.
Diverse Offerings: Providing a variety of
entertainment options that can attract different
segments of tourists.
Responsible Gaming Initiatives: Implementing
programs like the Player Exclusion program to
promote responsible gambling, enhancing the
reputation of destinations as safe and responsible.
INTEGRATION WITH ONLINE
GAMBLING
Digital Integration: Creating opportunities for
online gaming and betting within the hospitality
industry, such as in-room gaming services.
Revenue Streams: Generating additional
revenue through partnerships with online
gaming operators.
Innovation: Leveraging digital technologies to
enhance customer experiences in both physical
and virtual environments

17. How Gaming Law be useful in the
hospitality and tourism industry?
Social Responsibility and
Ethical Considerations
Positive Image: Enhancing the reputation of the
tourism sector by promoting ethical practices.
Customer Trust: Building long-term relationships with
customers through responsible gaming initiatives.
Sustainability: Ensuring the long-term viability of the
gaming industry by preventing issues related to
gambling addiction.

18. References
 PAGCOR Official Website
 The LawPhil Project
 Manila Standard Website
 Philippines Gambling Laws - PH Online Gambling Regulations
(legalonlinegambling.ph)
 Matthew Tingchi Liu, Shiying Dong, Mingxia Zhu, 2021. The application of digital
technology in gambling industry
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19. QUESTION FOR THE ROUND TABLE
DISCUSSION:
"How can the tourism and hospitality industry in the Philippines balance the
economic benefits of integrated resort casinos with the need to promote
responsible gambling and mitigate potential social costs?"